# Argentina Plans Tribunal Action Against Falklands Sea Lion Oil Project

By Riza Dagoc

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/31398
Published: 2026-10-13T17:50:21.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-13T17:50:21.000Z
Section: Regulation

> Argentina announced plans to begin arbitration and seek provisional measures against Sea Lion, the islands’ planned first commercial oil development.

Argentina announced plans to begin arbitration and seek provisional measures against the Sea Lion oil project, escalating its dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands’ planned first commercial oil development.

The Sept. 28 announcement cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and said Argentina would seek provisional measures from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea if Britain did not halt the project.

“Argentina will not stand idly by,” President Javier Milei’s office said.

Sea Lion is located about 220 kilometers north of the Falkland Islands. Navitas Petroleum Development and Production Ltd. operates the project, with Rockhopper Exploration as its partner.

Final investment decisions for the northern development area were taken in December 2025, and approvals for the first two phases had taken effect. The first two phases are designed around a floating production, storage and offloading vessel capable of producing 55,000 barrels per day.

Drilling is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with first oil planned for March 2028. The Falkland Islands are administered by Britain but claimed by Argentina, which calls them the Malvinas.

The dispute is moving beyond diplomatic objections as developers continue planning construction and drilling. Britain rejects Argentina’s objections to the project.